While Coronavirus Is In The Rearview Mirror, This Concord Pandemic Provision Continues

CONCORD, NH — Outdoor dining season in Downtown Concord began on Thursday, and restaurateurs taking advantage of the expanded seating during warmer climes say it is worth the hassle and extra costs… so long as it does not rain.

Brian Shea, the owner of The Barley House on North Main Street, spent his late morning setting up tables, chairs, and umbrellas after Concord General Services posted all the barriers overnight. The Barley House is celebrating its 25th year in business.

Before the coronavirus pandemic, when outdoor seating in parking spaces began in Concord, summers tended to be the restaurant’s slowest season. But now, it is its busiest. And outdoor eating is one of the reasons why, Shea said.

“That has helped tremendously,” Shea said.

The Barley House has about 17 tables outside covering three parking spaces. The sun shining on Thursday, as he was setting up, “was a good omen” for the season, he said.

The only bad thing about outdoor dining? Rain, Shea said, mainly because there is a dedicated staff to assist the outdoor diners, and when it rains, no one wants to be outside.

“Hopefully,” he added, “we’re going to have a great summer (with) a lot of sunshine.”

A quick drive around downtown found several eateries with seating on the sidewalk, but not many blocking off spaces for diners. The Revival Kitchen on Depot Street has spaces blocked off, as it has in the past. The Draft Sports Bar & Grill on South Main Street and Siam Orchid on North Main Street also have spaces blocked off. Concord Food Co-Op, Tandy’s, The Bagel Works, Dos Amigos, STREET, Granite State Candy Shoppe, Live Juice, Social Club Creamery, and Brothers Cortado all have sidewalk seating.

Matt Walsh, the deputy city manager-development, said the city had received permit applications from 13 establishments providing 377 seats combined, both in spaces and on sidewalks. The city expects to derive a little less than $20,000 in revenue from the program.

Restaurants are charged $3 per square foot of permitted dining area, per season, as well as $1,000 per parking space, per season. The season runs from May 1 until Oct. 15 for eateries using parking spaces. Sidewalk dining ends on Oct. 31.

For more information about the program, visit this link.

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